Dirtbag Billionaire

'In Dirtbag Billionaire, David Gelles chronicles the life of Yvon Chouinard in a manner that is as spirited and unflinching as his subject.' * Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore * 'Highly entertaining….good on the inherent tension at the heart of Patagonia’. * The Times * ‘A riveting behind-the-scenes look at Patagonia—and how the trailblazing company redefined business and purpose….Essential reading.’ * Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit * ‘Chouinard’s fascinating, daring and contradictory life is unique in the annals of modern business, and Gelles shows us why in vivid, sympathetic detail.’ * John Vaillant, bestselling author of Fire Weather * ‘You will want to read David Gelles's outstanding saga in one sitting. Yvon has made an extraordinary contribution to humankind.’ * Paul Hawken, author of Carbon * ‘This is a book the world has been waiting for. Its subject is proof that you can have a good time on this earth, and make it a far better place—if you wanted the opposite of Elon Musk, that would be Yvon Chouinard.’ * Bill McKibben, author Here Comes the Sun * ‘A rebel’s guide to giving a damn. Brilliant and real. Excellently written. A must-must read!’ * Nick Bilton, bestselling author of American Kingping * ‘Dirtbag Billionaire shares the magic of what happens when visionary business leaders commit to doing well by doing good. Read it if you are interested in reforming capitalism—and especially if you think capitalism is irredeemable.’ * Lynn Forester de Rothschild, founder and CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism * ‘Dirtbag Billionaire is a powerful reminder that business, at its best, can be a tool for good. Gelles captures the complex, often conflicting pressures founders face—and the courage it takes to lead with conviction. It’s an inspiring call to dream big, do the right thing, and use success as a lever for lasting impact. I couldn’t put it down.’ * Sali Christeson, founder and CEO of Argent * ‘More than a simple biography of an enigmatic business figure, Dirtbag Billionaire is a case study in the cultural and political potential — and limitations — of corporate design and ownership in today’s extractive economic system. Gelles presents Chouinard as a revolutionary in sport, commerce and philanthropy — an imperfect and often paradoxical founder whose story shows that building a sustainable world requires not perfection but persistence.’ * Washington Post * ‘This is a powerful and timely book that reimagines the role of business in society. Chouinard’s life is both fascinating and instructive, offering a blueprint for future corporations striving to become better stewards of the planet.’ * Library Journal * ‘Chouinard’s—and Patagonia’s—stories are inspirational, and the reader will come away wishing that more of today’s über-rich people and corporations would follow his example.’ * Booklist *